Jennifer Hudson Turned Down a Killer Role for a Great Reason

on December 27, 2011 at 2:53 PM

Jennifer Hudson's slimdown has to be one of the most talked about celebrity weight loss stories of 2011. Now, she's sharing all the details of how she did it in her new book, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down, out January 10. And one of her confessions shines light on one of the biggest problems in Hollywood -- the never-ending gain-or-lose-weight-for-a-role roller coaster.

Hudson said she asked to gain weight to play Effie in Dreamgirls, and we all know how that turned out -- amazing. But then, when faced with the same offer for the Academy Award nominated film Precious, she turned it down. (Side note: Why the heck would they have wanted to cast 27-year-old Hudson in Gabourey Sidibe's role anyway, being that the part is supposed to be played by a teen? Dumb.) She writes that she "wanted to try a role that had nothing whatsoever to do with my weight."

Not that crazy a revelation, right?

Hollywood pretty much brainwashes stars into thinking they've got to fit a type to get a job. And Jennifer fought back, knowing, I'm sure, how totally taxing gaining weight for a role has to be on the body. Not that it has stopped other stars ...

Whenever I hear a star has lost or gained X amount for their new role, I always think of Renee Zellweger who got all that attention for gaining weight to play Bridget Jones. (A role that the British were none too pleased to see her play, being that she's not only naturally skinny, but also American.) And she didn't just do it once ... Remember the Bridget sequel? She seemed to gain even more weight for that! After she had lost the weight from the first go round. Eeesh!!

Male actors do it all the time, too. (Matt Damon, Ryan Gosling, and Tom Hanks are offenders.) And while it may be easier for them to lose the weight, I swear it looks it's like they're just asking for a heart attack.

Forget the fact that it's crap for Hollywood to want to portray women mostly as either rail-thin or obese (rarely do we see a healthy medium). This "gain it to win it" casting ultimatum is seriously dangerous! I'm sure doctors would agree that asking a star to pack on even 10 pounds to play a part is a terrible idea that does irreparable damage.

Thank goodness Jennifer Hudson put her well-being before an award-winning role. Maybe now that she's taken a stand, more stars will have the guts to do the same.

Do you think it's okay for stars to gain weight for a role?

Image via Amazon.com

About the author Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

Filed Under: weight loss, celebrities, celebrity diets

Comments (3)

Laura_N_Texas

on Dec 27, 2011 at 3:04 PM

I personally wish we could go back to where a size 8 or 10 was "skinny" because IMO, the average woman is around that size. I am 5'8", weigh 140 lbs and wear a size 8 in my jeans. I am perfectly healthy. My BMI is where it should be and everything. But Hollywood would call me fat. Guaranteed. It's ridiculous. Some people are naturally thinner, so are naturally bigger. And that's perfectly ok.

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starkwe

on Dec 28, 2011 at 7:23 PM

When there is so much evidence that yo-yo dieting is more dangerous than either being too fat or too skinny, it is irresponsible to ask actors and actresses to gain and lose weight like that for roles.